It could be the start of a big month for part-owner Billy Mumford when former Goulburn sprinter Crosswise makes his Queensland debut at Eagle Farm.Crosswise will have his first start for Eagle Farm trainer Rob Heathcote when he resumes on a rain-affected track in Saturday's Lisa Mayne 40th Birthday Quality (1200m).Eagle Farm was rated a heavy eight on Friday following steady rain and the forecast is for showers to continue over the weekend."He's fit and even though it looks like being a slow tra

It could be the start of a big month for part-owner Billy Mumford when former Goulburn sprinter Crosswise makes his Queensland debut at Eagle Farm.

Crosswise will have his first start for Eagle Farm trainer Rob Heathcote when he resumes on a rain-affected track in Saturday's Lisa Mayne 40th Birthday Quality (1200m).

Eagle Farm was rated a heavy eight on Friday following steady rain and the forecast is for showers to continue over the weekend.

"He's fit and even though it looks like being a slow track I'll be recommending to his owners to start him tomorrow," Heathcote said.

Mumford is widely known throughout Queensland as the part-owner of Consular who was runner-up to the Bob Thomsen-trained Thorn Park in the Group One Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in 2004.

Consular, who was bought for a song as a tried horse in Victoria, raced numerous times at the elite level before finishing his career with 16 wins from 85 starts and more than $1 million in prizemoney.

While Consular grazes in retirement, Mumford also races his younger half-brother, the Peter Moody-trained Reward For Effort.

Reward For Effort is a strong fancy for the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 21 after winning the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) at Caulfield on Australia day.

The Exceed And Excel colt subsequently finished a gallant second to Real Saga in last Sunday's Group Three Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield.

Heathcote expects a strong showing from Crosswise who was bought by Mumford and close friend Tim Taylor after he won seven of his 16 starts for Goulburn trainer Danny Williams.

The son of Strategic hasn't raced since finishing ninth to Nuclear Sky in the Group Three Hawkesbury Cup (1600m) in November.

After an exasperating search for a suitable jockey, Joe Bowditch will ride Crosswise who has a good record first-up with two wins and a second from four starts.

"I've been on a merry-go-round trying to get a rider," Heathcote said.

"Shane Scriven is a good friend of Billy's and he was always going to ride him first-up but Ice Chariot compressed the weights which meant Shane couldn't make the weight."

Heathcote liked what he saw from Crosswise when he finished third in a 900-metre barrier trial at Doomben last month.

"He's a nice horse and I liked the way he trialled at Doomben," he said.

"He's certainly sound and I've had no issues whatsoever with him so far and I'm expecting him to run well.

"It's only his first run for me and he's yet to prove anything.

"But I like what I've seen from him so far so some of the winter races may not be beyond him."